Take recent events as a harsh, bold example. In the past election, the Republicans were able to effectively employ marketing and campaigning strategies to swing the vote in their direction. They succeeded in convincing the American people that the responsibility for years of reckless business practices and a process of unbridled deregulation was somehow squarely on the shoulders of President Obama and the Democrats. A far fetched idea at best. And yet it worked.
At the beginning of the week, Republicans demanded an extension of the Bush tax cuts - not just for the working and middle classes - but also for the absolute wealthiest individuals in the country. This forced through a tax plan that will never pay for itself and which belittles the needs of many millions of Americans while helping those who need anything but to be helped.
Flash forward to today. Despite the best efforts of Democrats, including New York's Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, Republicans are uniting to block passage of a bill to - that's right! - give aid to 9/11 workers who have suffered serious health problems since they came to the rescue of their fellow citizens nine years ago. The Republican rationale? There are simply no funds to cover the cost.
Not enough money?! This is the party that in the same week threw away untold sums in the form of extended tax cuts to the ultra wealthy. Where could the funding for 9/11 workers have come from? Well, Republicans failed to find the answer to that riddle. Personally, I noticed that perhaps a termination of the tax cuts (to those who in no way need them) could fund aid to ill workers. Silly idea I suppose. I am sure to some a new private golf course is just as essential as, say, the care of a doctor is to others.
And yet the Republicans still receive votes. Millions in fact! While I do not allege to know this for sure, I highly doubt there are many multiple millions of billionaires spread across the crimson red districts of this country. Yet the numbers would have you think so. Millions voting for a party that will vote against them once in office.
It is truly a disgrace that Republican strategy has become so efficient and Democratic strategy so abysmally ineffective that untold millions who work double shifts, partake in manual labor, and are barely able to get by are talked into voting for a party that would throw their own voters under the bus for the sake of the top 2%. And yet that is what happens. And Republicans will do it to them again and again, with a big broad smile. And again, those same poor men and women will vote for that same Grand Ol' Party...
